Page 28

GIDEON

J esus, fuck. Why do I torture myself like this? Winnow making me laugh so hard it makes my dick soft, feels like perhaps whatever God there is has shown me a small mercy by enabling me to avoid an erection. But now, there’s no possible way to avoid it if I crawl in bed with her.

I want this woman.

Not merely physically, but in every way—a terrifying realization considering I barely know her. It makes me feel out of control, and control is the only thing that’s enabled me to survive this life.

Not to mention, I refuse to put her in a situation that, if she one day decides she’s grown tired of me, might make her feel like she has to fuck me in order to keep a roof over her head.

That thought alone fortifies me to maintain my self-restraint, even if I do wanna fill every pretty little hole of hers with my cum.

Still, I can’t help but feel like a nun as I pin her mischievous, yet somehow still innocent, gaze with a narrow-eyed look of my own. I grab a book out of my nightstand and pull the covers back on my side of the bed.

“You better behave yourself, woman.”

My words do nothing to quell the excitement I can see bubbling beneath her surface. Grinning from ear to pretty ear, she watches me like I’ve hung the moon, and by God, I wanna fucking give it to her.

“Yes, sir, I shall.”

As I climb in, her eyes fall to where Trigger sits, tail swiping back and forth across the floor as he does a little dance in place with his front paws. I shake my head at the poor bastard.

Winnow and I exchange a look; mine a scowl and hers a pout.

“You did this.”

Her lips pop open on a huffed laugh. “It was one night!”

“That’s all it takes. You’ve spoiled him rotten now.”

Winnow’s pouty lip returns. “Please?”

I heave a sigh. Goddamn it.

“Fine— but only while we read. When we turn off the lights, he can go sleep in the damn living room.”

Winnow’s mouth splits wide in a stunning grin as she throws her arms around me and presses a firm kiss to my cheek.

And damn it, if it doesn’t make me wanna sink my teeth and my cock into her.

She pulls back, patting the bed at our feet as she encourages him to climb up.

I’m still shaking my head as he hesitates, his dark brown expressive gaze darting to me for permission, like even he can’t believe I’d ever allow such a thing.

Rolling my eyes, I pat the same spot. “Better hurry up before I change my mind.”

Trigger gives an excited bark and leaps straight onto the bed. Overwhelmed with joy to be joining the party, he immediately attempts to lick our faces, and I have to swat him away. “Sit.”

With a huff, he plops down. I show Winnow the book in my hand. “How do you feel about murder mysteries?”

Winnow’s brows leap. “I can honestly say I’ve never read one.”

“Do you read much?”

“Loads, but it’s mostly either relative to the healing arts, horticulture, botany, or romance.”

Despite the term healing arts being a little strange, I make an internal note. Ya know… Just in case I stumble upon something she might like.

“You willin’ to give it a try?”

“I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to violence, but I’m happy to try for you.”

“Only if you want to. I’m happy to read to you, and if you don’t like it, I have loads of other stuff on my bookshelves you might like, though the romance section might be a little limited.”

Winnow’s brows pinch with emotion like I’ve just offered to give her the world.

“You’d read to me?”

“Of course. Why not? I mean, it’s the least I could do, considering I don’t have a TV.”